Wenger Talks Bramall Capture

Not a great secret for January, Arsenal have now confirmed the capture of non league starlet Cohen Bramall.

News of our interest in Hednesford Town’s left back had been known for a while but today we have officially completed the capture of the man, following a short trial ahead of Christmas, who was recently still employed in a car factory to make his living.

Manager Arsene Wenger has likened his route to Arsenal as a bit like Laurent Koscielny and Olivier Giroud who both made their names in the French lower leagues before getting their break and with a reported £40,000 transfer fee now paid – it”s hardly any risk for Arsenal but if it works out we could have a gem on our hands.

Announcing his signing, the 20 year old will join up with our Under 23 squad to continue his development and Wenger told the Official Site.

‘I believe that when you go down, there`s mental selection. It`s a mental test – do you love football enough? Are you ready enough to fight to show that you are above this level and that you absolutely want to come back?’

The Frenchman went on to add.

‘Players like Giroud and Koscielny have had that test. They are similar to that. Once they get up, they really mean it. Bramall is a young, promising left back who has a lack of experience at the top level but who has fantastic ingredients. He has tremendous pace, a good left foot, a great desire to do well. Overall, he`s a very exciting prospect.’

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was also asked about his first impressions of the player when he turned up at London Colney, and he said he was impressed as you could see the flashes that had attracted the club to him in the first place.

‘I was training on the side of the pitch with the fitness coach. So I was looking over and then I saw him training, so I asked someone about him and they me a story and obviously it made me think wow – to be where he was a couple of weeks ago, and then to be training with the Arsenal first team, I was thinking he must be in dreamland over there.’

The Ox went on to say.

‘I paid close attention to him and saw some really good signs of things – you can see why we wanted to sign him. I was very encouraged by his story and quite inspired to see someone that`s been given that opportunity and he was proving himself and holding his own. It was great, and then I chatted to him after training and he was just a really good lad and a top boy. He was generally just delighted and surprised at the same time, to be in the position that he was. He was really humble about it as well, which is always nice to see. Straightaway he seemed like somebody I wanted to help, and wanted to see do well.’